Best Counties in Pennsylvania — 2026 Rankings
67 of 67 counties scored across 12 dimensions
67
67 scored
52/100
composite score
61.1/100
28.8—61.1
lowest to highest
Rankings
Top Counties in Pennsylvania
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Ranks Slightly Above the National Median
Pennsylvania earns a composite livability score of 51.8, placing it just above the national median of 50.0. With all 67 counties reporting data, the Commonwealth offers a competitive quality of life that holds its own against many peers in the Northeast.
Strong Health Outcomes and Solid Income Levels
The state performs best in health, securing a strong dimension score of 64.6. Additionally, its income score of 58.6 outpaces the national average, reflecting a workforce with decent earning power relative to the rest of the country.
High Taxes and Environmental Risks Hinder Scores
A low tax score of 21.9 indicates a relatively high tax burden compared to many other states. Combined with a risk score of 32.6, residents face a mix of financial pressures and environmental vulnerabilities that lower the state's overall ceiling.
Affordable Rural Living in Cameron and Elk
Cameron County leads the state with a 61.1 composite score, driven by a remarkable 85.0 affordability rating. Elk and Jefferson counties follow closely at 60.8, proving that Pennsylvania's most livable areas currently favor rural regions with lower costs.
A Balanced Choice for Health-Conscious Residents
Pennsylvania is an ideal fit for families who prioritize access to healthcare and stable income over low taxation. While urban centers like Philadelphia struggle with lower scores, the state's rural counties provide a high-value alternative for budget-conscious living.
All County Rankings in Pennsylvania
Search, sort, and filter all 67 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 67 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron County | 61.1 | 7.9 | 85 | 10.5 | 70 | 48.9 | 89.1 | 87.4 | 86 | 54.8 | 69.5 | ||
| 2 | Elk County | 60.8 | 20.5 | 80.3 | 51 | 62.1 | 71.7 | 74 | 54.8 | 29.8 | 57.8 | 67 | ||
| 3 | Jefferson County | 60.8 | 30.3 | 74.9 | 30 | 78.6 | 51.3 | 79.8 | 42.1 | 29.7 | 60.5 | 37.7 | 56.6 | |
| 4 | Sullivan County | 60.4 | 34.5 | 63.4 | 53.3 | 65.1 | 50.5 | 92 | 89.3 | 8.5 | 56.3 | 62.8 | ||
| 5 | Montour County | 60.1 | 36 | 27.3 | 73.9 | 68.9 | 76.3 | 94.6 | 85.4 | 32.1 | 57.8 | 48.8 | 45.6 | |
| 6 | Butler County | 59.7 | 33.1 | 24 | 89.9 | 79.1 | 90.1 | 80.7 | 20.7 | 51.2 | 54.4 | 44.7 | 63.7 | |
| 7 | Huntingdon County | 59.2 | 44.2 | 60.8 | 55.7 | 62.7 | 69.8 | 63.5 | 49.8 | 44 | 59.8 | 45.1 | 64.8 | |
| 8 | Potter County | 58.9 | 22 | 69.1 | 38.6 | 75.2 | 64.5 | 66.3 | 71.9 | 24.1 | 54.6 | 52.4 | 55.3 | |
| 9 | Somerset County | 58.6 | 30.5 | 68.5 | 37.1 | 65.3 | 55.5 | 83.3 | 35.8 | 47.5 | 58.5 | 39.3 | 50.7 | |
| 10 | Bedford County | 58.4 | 52.3 | 66.9 | 40.1 | 55.1 | 60.1 | 79.5 | 31.8 | 9.2 | 55.9 | 45.1 | 59.1 | |
| 11 | Clarion County | 58.4 | 40.4 | 65.5 | 41.2 | 66.3 | 53.8 | 71.6 | 70 | 22.2 | 55.7 | 42.2 | 52.5 | |
| 12 | Clearfield County | 57.9 | 26 | 64.2 | 39.6 | 75.5 | 60.2 | 70.3 | 32.9 | 46.5 | 58.7 | 35.4 | 59.7 | |
| 13 | Centre County | 57.8 | 33.4 | 15.8 | 73.3 | 78.1 | 82 | 91.8 | 32 | 43.3 | 56.1 | 41.4 | 58 | |
| 14 | Susquehanna County | 57.1 | 28.3 | 44.9 | 59 | 68.6 | 66.4 | 85.8 | 46.4 | 29.1 | 54.6 | 62.3 | 64.4 | |
| 15 | Cambria County | 57 | 21.6 | 74 | 28.3 | 74.1 | 61.2 | 68.2 | 23.6 | 20.8 | 59.5 | 37.8 | 58.6 | |
| 16 | Westmoreland County | 57 | 21.7 | 44 | 72.4 | 62.6 | 83.3 | 80.3 | 12.2 | 65 | 60 | 44.5 | 68.2 | |
| 17 | Venango County | 56.8 | 20.3 | 72 | 44 | 55.6 | 59.4 | 86 | 44.4 | 26.6 | 55.4 | 44.2 | 54.3 | |
| 18 | Juniata County | 56.7 | 34.5 | 63.9 | 50.6 | 70.2 | 45.5 | 71.6 | 61.2 | 15 | 56.7 | 64.7 | ||
| 19 | Wyoming County | 56.2 | 19.2 | 37.3 | 67.3 | 70.1 | 66 | 96.4 | 55.2 | 9 | 54.6 | 67.7 | 63.1 | |
| 20 | Clinton County | 56.1 | 28.4 | 50.8 | 34.8 | 73.4 | 57 | 82 | 48.2 | 28.9 | 53.9 | 39.2 | 59.3 | |
| 21 | Armstrong County | 56 | 13.3 | 63.6 | 51.4 | 74.5 | 61.4 | 76.8 | 30.7 | 10.3 | 52.3 | 52.1 | 67.1 | |
| 22 | Fulton County | 56 | 36.1 | 60.1 | 53.5 | 41.4 | 68.1 | 63.1 | 92.3 | 86 | 55.9 | 50.8 | 60.8 | |
| 23 | Greene County | 55.9 | 21.1 | 67.8 | 58.8 | 68.4 | 58.3 | 64.7 | 44.9 | 19.2 | 57.3 | 76.5 | ||
| 24 | Columbia County | 55.4 | 28.8 | 44.2 | 45.2 | 72.1 | 69.1 | 70 | 38 | 48.1 | 58.3 | 51.4 | 48.6 | |
| 25 | Washington County | 55.1 | 30.6 | 34.2 | 80.8 | 66.5 | 71.3 | 82.6 | 16.9 | 24.8 | 62.2 | 83.7 |
Cameron County
Elk County
Jefferson County
Sullivan County
Montour County
Butler County
Huntingdon County
Potter County
Somerset County
Bedford County
Clarion County
Clearfield County
Centre County
Susquehanna County
Cambria County
Westmoreland County
Venango County
Juniata County
Wyoming County
Clinton County
Armstrong County
Fulton County
Greene County
Columbia County
Washington County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Pennsylvania
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Pennsylvania.
What is the best county in Pennsylvania?
Cameron County is the top-ranked county in Pennsylvania with a CountyScore of 61.1/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 67 counties in total. Of those, 67 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Pennsylvania?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Pennsylvania is 52/100. The national average is 50/100, so Pennsylvania counties score 2 points above the national average.
How does Pennsylvania compare to other states?
Pennsylvania's average county score of 52/100 is 2 points above the national average of 50/100. You can compare Pennsylvania counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Pennsylvania.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.